better-auth-core

Better Auth Core (TypeScript)

Goals

• Set up a Better Auth instance with environment variables and data layer wiring.
• Wire server handlers and a client instance.
• Use sessions and server-side API methods safely.
• Keep data-layer choices pluggable (drivers or adapters).

Quick start

1. Install better-auth.
2. Set BETTER_AUTH_SECRET (32+ chars) and BETTER_AUTH_URL.
3. Create auth.ts and export auth.
4. Provide database (driver or adapter) or omit for stateless sessions.
5. Mount a handler (auth.handler or a framework helper).
6. Create a client with createAuthClient.

import { betterAuth } from "better-auth";

export const auth = betterAuth({ database: myDatabaseOrAdapter, // driver or adapter; omit for stateless mode emailAndPassword: { enabled: true }, socialProviders: { github: { clientId: process.env.GITHUB_CLIENT_ID as string, clientSecret: process.env.GITHUB_CLIENT_SECRET as string, }, }, });

## Core setup checklist
- Export the instance as `auth` (or default export) so helpers find it.
- Keep `BETTER_AUTH_URL` in sync with the public base URL.
- Pass the full base URL to the client if you change the `/api/auth` base path.
- Add database migrations before enabling plugins that require tables.

## Server API usage
- Call server endpoints via `auth.api.*` with `{ body, headers, query }`.
- Use `asResponse: true` if you need a `Response` object.
- Use `returnHeaders: true` to access `Set-Cookie` headers.

```ts
import { auth } from "./auth";

const session = await auth.api.getSession({
  headers: request.headers,
});

const response = await auth.api.signInEmail({
  body: { email, password },
  asResponse: true,
});

Session access

• Client: authClient.useSession() or authClient.getSession().
• Server: auth.api.getSession({ headers }).

TypeScript tips

• Infer types with auth.$Infer and authClient.$Infer.
• Use inferAdditionalFields on the client when you extend the user schema.

References

• toolchains/platforms/auth/better-auth/better-auth-core/references/setup-database.md
• toolchains/platforms/auth/better-auth/better-auth-core/references/client-server.md
• toolchains/platforms/auth/better-auth/better-auth-core/references/typescript.md